News from Latin America and the Caribbean

President Barack Obama and Latin America: A strong new beginning or not so much?

December 1, 2009 | 4:31
pm

Since becoming president, Barack Obama has promised a new beginning in relations between the United States and countries throughout Latin America. He even caused a stir during an April meeting of Western Hemisphere leaders by exchanging warm greetings with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who once called former President George W. Bush the devil and early this year referred to Obama as an ignoramous.

But the challenges are many. An editorial in the Los Angeles Times today says the U.S. bungled its response to the crisis in Honduras that followed the June coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya, further damaging its credibility with Latin American countries. To read the editorial, click here.